The Tai Chi Life – Part One

I’ve recently been reminded of how important tai chi can be to our lives overall.  In one way I like to think of tai chi as “aggressive non-aggression”.  In another way I like to think of tai chi as being open to all possibilities, cutting off no options.  Both of these traits take a great deal of concentration and practice.

The second trait is the one I believe is best cultivated first.  We usually decide where we want to go and then think it absolutely necessary to map out exactly how we’ll get there.  There’s a problem inherent in this strategy.  Often where we want to go is someplace we’ve never been; yet we’re bold enough to believe we know exactly how we should get there… before we’ve even started.  Sometimes we seek advise from others who are where we want to be and they lay out a strategy for us according to how they arrived.  This can be a good way to go; however, the plan we get doesn’t account for the many unknown factors we will encounter.

If you ever been to Maine you’ve likely heard the saying, “You can’t get there from here.”  If you’ve never heard of Farrah Gray then you might believe you can’t get where you want to be from where you are.  Farrah Gray started making money in the Chicago Ghetto at the age of 6, and became a millionaire by the time he was 14.  How many people around Farrah would have even thought that possible?  Farrah didn’t have a plan.  What he did have was drive and incredible mental flexibility.

Ever had the feeling that everything is lined up just right and that everything will work out perfectly?  How about the feeling that something is off or out of kilter?  When everything is clicking you’ll find you’re focused on what you want without regard for what could go wrong.  This is by far the best state to be in and it can be cultivated.  Since you don’t really know exactly what’s going to happen you’re far better off focusing on where you want to be and moving in that direction to the exclusion of all else.  If something happens you didn’t expect, and it probably will, deal with it and keep moving.

At those times when something feels off, it’s best not to take that action.  It doesn’t mean that action is not a good one, but until you can think about it in a way that gives you confidence, don’t do it.  If you can’t find a way to think of it in a way that feels right, move on to something else.  A baseball pitcher who has decided to throw a fastball and is focused on the catcher’s mitt will likely thrown the ball right into the mitt.  If that same pitcher is worried about hitting the batter, and is focused on the batter, he will likely throw the ball right at the batter.  It’s not the act of throwing the fastball; it’s how he thinks about it.  As the great Yogi Berra said, “Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.”

Knowing what you want is important, knowing exactly how you’ll get there isn’t quite so critical.  It’s a good idea to develop a plan, but it’s just as important to know when to alter the plan, or even when to throw it out the window.  Sometimes we listen to our gut, and usually this is one of the best things we can do.  At other times we listen to our gut, but in relation to how others will perceive us.  While this may get us somewhere, it won’t usually take us where we really want to go.  Being too concerned about what others think is a bad idea.  Everyone has a different opinion and no one really knows what you want, no matter how hard you try to explain it.

Tai chi teaches us to listen to our own energy, and then that of our opponents.  It teaches us to be physically and mentally flexible.  Tai chi is truly non-aggressive.  You ultimately learn to react so quickly that you can counter an opponents move just as they think of it.  This requires incredible flexibility, not to mention well honed focus.

Marines are instilled with this type of attitude in basic training.  They are taught always to make a decision, any decision, and act on it immediately.  Inaction is the worst possible course of action when your life is on the line.  Remember though, sitting still is an action that is sometimes appropriate.  Sitting still for too long is usually the result of indecision and fear.

If you’re sitting around wondering what to do, take a page from the tai chi playbook: decide what you want, take whatever action seems best at the moment, and be ready, willing and able to adjust on the fly… at a moment’s notice.  I think you’ll find you’ll end up where you wanted to.  Either that, or you’ll realize you only thought that’s where you wanted to go and you’ll end up someplace even better.  Go for it.  

Your thoughts?

John

P.S.  Tomorrow we’ll talk about aggressive non-aggression.

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